Abstract
Taxol is a powerful and complex anti-cancer compound that was first isolated from the bark of the Pacific yew Taxus brevifolia. Although it offered huge potential as an anti-cancer agent, it experienced a long development period, attributed to by its low availability from its traditional source. Research into alternate sources and methods of production for Taxol have been crucial in meeting with demand for the drug. Three main avenues of research have resulted. Firstly, chemical syntheses of this complex diterpene consist of multiple steps and are not economically feasible due to their low yield. Developments have therefore concentrated on enhancing production in vivo. Efforts have been made to understand the enzymatic steps involved in the synthesis within the yew and innovations to produce Taxol and Taxol-like substances in high yield from cell cultures of Taxus species. An alternative stream of research focuses on endophytes as the producer of Taxol. Endophytes can be isolated from the yew tree and produce Taxol in culture. Encouraging findings with endophytes resulted in much interest in the prospect of using endophytes as the producer of Taxol and Taxol-like substances. This review also discusses patents and the future prospects of each of the main streams of production.
Keywords: Taxol, anti-cancer agents, endophyte, diterpene
Recent Patents on Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery
Title: Development of Taxol and Other Endophyte Produced Anti-Cancer Agents
Volume: 3 Issue: 1
Author(s): Daniel M.Y. Sze, Kristin Miller and Brett Neilan
Affiliation:
Keywords: Taxol, anti-cancer agents, endophyte, diterpene
Abstract: Taxol is a powerful and complex anti-cancer compound that was first isolated from the bark of the Pacific yew Taxus brevifolia. Although it offered huge potential as an anti-cancer agent, it experienced a long development period, attributed to by its low availability from its traditional source. Research into alternate sources and methods of production for Taxol have been crucial in meeting with demand for the drug. Three main avenues of research have resulted. Firstly, chemical syntheses of this complex diterpene consist of multiple steps and are not economically feasible due to their low yield. Developments have therefore concentrated on enhancing production in vivo. Efforts have been made to understand the enzymatic steps involved in the synthesis within the yew and innovations to produce Taxol and Taxol-like substances in high yield from cell cultures of Taxus species. An alternative stream of research focuses on endophytes as the producer of Taxol. Endophytes can be isolated from the yew tree and produce Taxol in culture. Encouraging findings with endophytes resulted in much interest in the prospect of using endophytes as the producer of Taxol and Taxol-like substances. This review also discusses patents and the future prospects of each of the main streams of production.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Sze M.Y. Daniel, Miller Kristin and Neilan Brett, Development of Taxol and Other Endophyte Produced Anti-Cancer Agents, Recent Patents on Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery 2008; 3 (1) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157489208783478685
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157489208783478685 |
Print ISSN 1574-8928 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 2212-3970 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Novel anti-cancer drugs in photoimmunotherapy management: from bench to translational research
In recent years, traditional cancer treatments, such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation treatment, etc., may damage the pathological tissue and normal cells. The ideal tumor treatment should be noninvasive, eliminating the primary tumor, making the body produce systemic tumor-specific immunity, eliminating metastases, and having less /no side effects. Recent Patents ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship Studies: Understanding the Mechanism of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibition
Current Enzyme Inhibition Angiotensin-(1-7): A Peptide Hormone with Anti-Cancer Activity
Current Medicinal Chemistry Topoisomerase I and II Inhibitors: A Patent Review
Recent Patents on Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery Prodrugs in Genetic Chemoradiotherapy
Current Pharmaceutical Design Small-molecule Modulation of HDAC6 Activity: The Propitious Therapeutic Strategy to Vanquish Neurodegenerative Disorders
Current Medicinal Chemistry Advancements in Non-steroidal Antiandrogens as Potential Therapeutic Agents for the Treatment of Prostate Cancer
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Natural Killer Cell Receptors in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection: Pathways to Protection or Doors to Disappointment?
Current HIV Research Update of Targeted Therapy-Induced Hypertension: Basics for Non-Oncology Providers
Current Hypertension Reviews Emerging Therapies Targeting Tumor Vasculature in Multiple Myeloma and other Hematologic and Solid Malignancies
Current Cancer Drug Targets Abelson Tyrosine-Protein Kinase 1 as Principal Target for Drug Discovery Against Leukemias. Role of the Current Computer-Aided Drug Design Methodologies
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Biomedical Applications of Zinc Oxide Nanomaterials
Current Molecular Medicine Pharmacogenomics of Breast Cancer Targeted Therapy: Focus on Recent Patents
Recent Patents on DNA & Gene Sequences Lipid Matrix Nanoparticles: Pharmacokinetics and Biopharmaceutics
Current Nanoscience Localisation of Endothelin-1 and its Receptors in Vascular Tissue as Seen at the Electron Microscopic Level
Current Vascular Pharmacology ALK-Positive Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer; Potential Combination Drug Treatments
Current Cancer Drug Targets Autophagy: Molecular Mechanisms and their Implications for Anticancer Therapies
Current Cancer Drug Targets HIV-1 Replication from After Cell Entry to the Nuclear Periphery
Current HIV Research Role of Drug Metabolism in the Cytotoxicity and Clinical Efficacy of Anthracyclines
Current Drug Metabolism Enhanced Free Radical Status of Cancer Cells Success and Failure of Prooxidant/Antioxidant Treatment
Current Signal Transduction Therapy Analysis of the Concordance in the EGFR Pathway Status Between Primary Tumors and Related Metastases of Colorectal Cancer Patients:Implications for Cancer Therapy
Current Cancer Drug Targets